The Vestry Staff - 2010

Senior Warden:   Gail Smith

Junior Warden:  Jane Whitney

Commissions

History of Christ the King

Christ the King Episcopal Church actually began in 1985 as the South Walton Bible Fellowship, a south Walton group of Episcopalians who were members of St. Andrews Church in nearby Destin, Okaloosa County. They would meet on Sunday evenings at the Episcopal Fishers of Men Retreat facility for informal Bible study and fellowship.

The group quickly grew and the need was recognized for an Episcopal church in south Walton County. A meeting was held with the Arch-Deacon of the diocese and tentative plans were implemented. Services were held on alternate Sundays and were conducted by the Rector and Curate from St. Andrews.

Christ the King was recognized as a Mission Station by Bishop Charles Duvall on Easter Sunday, 1986, thus marking the first new Episcopal Church in Walton County in 100 years. Fr. Jack McLeester became Priest-in-Charge and Lance Hughes was appointed Warden by the bishop.

In 1988, using land that had been purchased by St. Andrews on Highway 98, the new congregation built a doublewide modular structure to a custom design so that it could serve as a church and offices. Fondly called “St. Doublewide” by the parishioners, it served the parish for 10 years. (The structure is currently being used by a new Lutheran congregation.) With the retirement of Fr. McLeester, Fr. Carl Bright became the Rector in 1990 and remained with the parish until his retirement in 2003.

A gift of 15 acres of heavily wooded land was given to the parish, and on September 14, 1998, the new church was consecrated by Bishop Charles Duvall. It sits at the end of a long, winding driveway surrounded by a forest of majestic pine and magnolia trees. Elegant in its simplicity, the church is a classic board and battens Carpenter Gothic building, and is often referred to as “The Church in the Wildwood”.

A covered walkway links the church to the Sandefur Hall and then continues around to a separate building that houses classrooms, nursery, and the Hughes Library. Lush gardens of azaleas and camellias fill the spaces surrounding the buildings. Standing in the courtyard known as “Gahagan’s Garth” is a lighted fountain.

We are proud to have come from “St. Doublewide” to what is widely considered the most beautiful church in the area, truly a church in the Wildwood.


Christ the King at Present


MEMBERSHIP

Christ the King has 220 Baptized members and 162 active confirmed members. We maintain communication, however, with approximately 365 parishioners and friends due to seasonal fluctuation in attendance from vacationers and winter residents. Sunday attendance averages 140 and we routinely celebrate in excess of 158 Holy Eucharist’s annually. In a typical year we perform 4 Baptisms, 10 Confirmations, and over 20 other special services.


WORSHIP

Christ the King has two services on Sunday mornings: Rite I at 8:00 and Rite II at 10:30 A.M. Other special occasions, such as house blessings and wedding anniversaries are also recognized and celebrated. Ecumenical services under the auspices of the South Walton Ministerial Association have become yearly celebrations on Good Friday and at Thanksgiving. Holy Week services usually include the Stations of the Cross, foot washings, and stripping of the altar. Every Wednesday evening at 5:30 P.M., we celebrate the Eucharist with a Healing service and discuss the upcoming Sunday Bible readings. Ecumenical services under the auspices of the South Walton Ministerial Association have become yearly celebrations at Thanksgiving. Holy Week services usually include the Stations of the Cross, foot washings, and stripping of the altar. Other special occasions, such as house blessings and wedding anniversaries are also recognized and celebrated.


MUSIC

Music and congregational singing play a vital role at the 10:30 service. Traditional selections with occasional renewal music are sung during the service. We are fortunate to have a very talented organist/ choir director who organizes and leads ecumenical seasonal cantatas and concerts with members from about 12 surrounding area churches with each member paying for their own music and the proceeds from each concert going to a community outreach program of their choice. Christ the King also offers the church for locally sponsored philharmonic concerts and other solo instrumental performances.


YOUTH ACTIVITIES

The Treble Clef’s Youth Choir has been active. We continue to present Christmas plays/dramas, monthly provide music for worship services, and much more. Throughout the year, many other activities are provided for the youth including the Annual Easter Egg hunt and the annual Trunk-or-Treat celebration, just to name a few. Our growing youth population is exciting and a joy.

SERVICE GUILDS

Organizations such as the Altar Guild and Flower Guild of St. Theresa offer members the opportunity to serve and participate in the church community. Currently we have an active acolyte ministry.


CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Christian Education for adults and children include a study at 9:15 A.M. on Sundays between services. Children’s Church is held from 10:30 to about 11:00 each Sunday in conjunction with the regular 10:30 service. Women conduct their Bible Study class on Monday mornings at 11:00 A.M., followed by Noon Day prayer. Men’s group meets for breakfast and Bible Study on Friday mornings. The Daughters of the King Intercessory Prayer group meets at 4:30 P.M. on Wednesday afternoon.


OUTREACH

Christ the King has always opened the doors of its facilities to outside groups for regular meetings, social and music events. We are involved in our community through a number of outreach projects, and 33% of our total operating income is given to outreach programs.


COOPER’S KITCHEN –

The Treehouse – A Montessori Pre-School Contact Maureen Paine for information

About the Area

Santa Rosa Beach, in the South of Walton County, Florida, is the home of Christ the King Episcopal Church. Santa Rosa Beach is one of the famous “Beaches of South Walton” that has been repeatedly listed as being among the best beaches in America. The unique soft white sand beaches that extend into the Gulf cause the water to be a beautiful emerald color for several hundred feet until the depth of the water increases and the water becomes a deep blue. The Gulf coast from Pensacola to Panama City Beach is called “The Emerald Coast.”

The church is located midway between the Gulf and Choctawhatchee Bay.

The Bay is 30 miles long and 3 miles wide and is fed from a watershed of inland rivers and the Gulf at high tide. Access to the Gulf from the bay is possible at East Pass in Destin, 15 miles from the church. A constant stream of boats cruises between the bay and gulf because Choctawhatchee Bay is part of the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway that extends from Brownsville, Texas to Boston, Mass.

There are unique features to our land and seascape. First, an oddity in the Gulf, called the 100 fathom curve, brings deep water closer to shore than any place in Florida and has resulted in the largest charter fishing fleet in the state with record breaking catches of various billfish and grouper among the many species landed every year. Second, the Coastal Dune lakes that dot the coastline are so rare they are found only in Walton County and in remote portions of Africa.

Our area boasts an ideal climate of chilly winters (30’s-50’s); mild and beautiful springs and autumns (40’s-70’s); and quite hot summers (80’s-high 90’s). The majority of our days in each season see clear blue skies and different flowering varieties of desert and forest flora.

The Emerald Coast has become a major tourist destination with spring and summer being the primary seasons. Also, an increasing number of visitors come to our area for the winter, and many attend our church for several months each year.
South Walton is an interesting mix of dense coastal development and rural forested areas. Census figures show a year round population of about 35,000; but the influx of more than 100,000 tourists has resulted in an array of fine restaurants, varied shopping opportunities, and a budding market for the visual arts. The result is a low key, small town atmosphere that is mingled with areas of cosmopolitan flair.
Okaloosa-Walton Community College in nearby Niceville boasts a fine arts program with emphasis on the visual and performing arts. A modern performing arts center hosts a large 1700 seat concert hall, where a steady stream of varied entertainment opportunities are offered, from the college supported symphony orchestra to musical theater and full dramatic stage productions by touring professionals and local performers.

The Walton County School District has 15 schools. Near the church are a kindergarten center, an elementary school, two middle schools and one high school. The nearby Okaloosa-Walton Community College has just been designated a four year college and will offer programs leading to a Bachelor's degree as well as the current Associate degree programs. A satellite campus is to be constructed during the next two years within three miles of our church.



Additional information may be found at the following sites:

South Walton County

Walton County Public Schools

Okaloosa-Walton Community College